Snowmobiler killed in avalanche identified as Minden man

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GARDNERVILLE, Nev. - A Minden man was killed in an avalanche 3:30 p.m. Friday after he triggered an avalanche at the Hope Valley Snowmobile Recreation Area.

Daniel Kuhner, 35, was riding his snowmobile when he triggered the avalanche and was buried along with the snowmobile.

His companions used their avalanche beacons to find him and dug Kuhner out from under 3-4 feet of snow, but found that he was already dead.

His friends then rode their snowmobiles back to the snow park to report the incident.

Due to avalanche danger in the area, recovery of Kuhner's body was delayed until Saturday when personnel from the Kirkwood Mountain Resort Avalanche Team were flow into the area by a California Highway Patrol helicopter to make the area safe for the recovery team.

Kuhner's body was removed at about 10 a.m. Saturday.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death, according to the Alpine County Sheriff's Office.